BULLETIN – Republican National Committee members say they expect RNC Chairman Michael Steele to make his reelection plans clear on a conference call Monday night, announced in an e-mail to members last evening: “Dear Members, Please join me for a private conference call, Monday December 13th at 7:30pm (EST) For your personal conference code please RSPV to … Thank you, and I look forward to talking to you Monday evening. Michael.”

--JONATHAN MARTIN’S TAKE on the cryptic e-mail: “Three Steele critics who got the email said they took the fanfare-free message as an indication that he was unlikely to mount a re-election bid. But given the chairman's silence about his intentions, nothing can be certain. A Steele spokesman didn't return a call. The chairman's race will be voted on when the committee meets next month for its winter meeting.”

--One of the top Republicans in the land tells us by phone: “Knowing Michael Steele, this could be to announce that he bought a new suit.”

TOP STORY – “Holbrooke in ‘Critical Condition’ After [21 hours of] Heart Surgery,” by Bloomberg’s Molly Peterson: “Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, ‘is in critical condition and has been joined by his family’ after heart surgery, State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley said [in a statement Saturday morning]. Doctors … ‘completed surgery to repair a tear in his aorta,’ Crowley said … Holbrooke suffered an ‘aortic bleed,’ White House adviser David Axelrod told CNN's ‘State of the Union’ program. The diplomat is ‘fighting through it,’ he said. Holbrooke is ‘tough and resilient,’ Axelrod said.”

--WP’s Karen DeYoung: “Holbrooke, 69, … was taken to George Washington University Hospital on Friday morning after he became flushed and had chest pains during a meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. He was almost immediately taken into surgery that extended for 21 hours into Saturday.” http://wapo.st/fYFn65

--AP Economics Writer Martin Crutsinger: “The Treasury Department said in a statement Saturday that [Secretary] Geithner had successfully completed the treatment [for a kidney stone] without incident and was released from the hospital Friday night ahead of schedule. Geithner was speaking with staff by telephone on Saturday and plans to be back at work on Monday.”

FRANK SINATRA would have been 95 today.

DRIVING THE WEEK – David Axelrod to Bob Schieffer, on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” on the tax-cut deal: “I believe that this WILL pass. The president’s been talking to members -- we’re all talking to members, and members are talking to each other. I think that we will get there. I don’t think ANYBODY wants to be responsible for taxes going up on January 1st because we couldn’t come to a resolution.”

--Axe, to Bob, on democracies in debt: “We’re going to have to have a serious discussion in the coming years about how we get budget deficits under control. The first element, of that, the president believes, is to get the economy growing at a robust rate. … We gotta do better. But we’re going to have to have a serious, adult discussion about what we can afford and what we can’t, and what our true priorities have to be to make ourselves strong, now and in the future. And we’re going to have that discussion.”

--Axe, to Christiane Amanpour on ABC’s “This Week,” when she asked if whether the administration “will get the majority of Democrats onside” on the tax deal: “I think we’re going to get strong support from both sides of the aisle. I RESPECT people who are unhappy. We SHARE their view on the upper-income tax cuts, on the estate tax. That was a part of the deal – odious though it may be – that we had to accept in order to get all the good things that come along with – that’s the nature of compromise. So I’m sure there will be some who will have a hard time getting over that hump. Others will see that this is extraordinarily important for our economy and for people across this country – that we not let this get to a Washington-style standoff.”

--Axe, to Christiane: “We have a framework. We have an agreement, and I don’t anticipate that it’s going to change greatly. … I don’t see major changes.”

BEHIND THE CURTAIN -- PELOSI GETS WIN ON ENERGY TAX CREDIT, per a little bird: At a House Caucus meeting this week, Vice President Biden and members of the Obama economic team (Jack Lew and Gene Sperling) got an earful from Speaker Pelosi and some of her colleagues about the fact that despite a big push from the V.P., the Republicans had not agreed to put 1603 -- a popular tax credit for renewable energy and green jobs -- into the tax framework. Pelosi called it a “must change.” The administration urgently got the message to Senators Baucus and Reid that if there was one thing to add to the tax extenders for the House, it was 1603. Baucus and Reid -- who had also gotten a earful on 1603 from Senators Cantwell, Feinstein and Boxer -- were able to get Republicans to agree to 1603 at the last minute, giving Pelosi a big victory on green jobs -- and tangible proof that she had improved at least part of the tax framework that the administration had initially presented the House.

ABOUT 20 CEOs will come to the Blair House on Wednesday for a “White House Working Session with Business.” President Obama and Cabinet members will participate.

--White House Deputy Communications Director Jennifer Psaki: “The biggest challenge we face moving forward is not competition between Democrats and Republicans, but in making sure we are preparing the next generation to compete globally. The working session is an opportunity for the President to continue building strong partnerships in the business community toward that goal. “

--A White House official: “The President made real inroads with the business community around the trip to Asia and the significant victories on the South Korea trade agreement, on the tax deal that will help push the country closely to economic recovery and the progress made by the President’s export council and the fiscal commission have all been embraced by key players in the business community.

“Goal of working session … is to drill down on the best way to move forward on accelerating job creation and making America more competitive in the 21st century. Areas of discussions will likely include: export promotion, ensuring the next generation has the skills to compete in a global market, investing in innovative areas with opportunity for growth including clean energy and technology and taking a serious approach to our medium and long-term federal deficits; tax reform, and a balanced approach to regulation that will promote, rather than undermine, economic growth. Working together, we can give businesses important regulatory certainty and predictability, while providing protection for the American people.”

COLLAPSING – AP/Minneapolis: “The inflatable roof of the Metrodome, where the Minnesota Vikings play, collapsed Sunday following a snow storm that dumped 17 inches on Minneapolis. … The Metrodome roof has failed three times before. It deflated in 1981, 1982 and 1983, each time due to tears caused by heavy snow. The April 14, 1983, collapse forced the postponement of the Twins' game with California, which had been the only postponement. A slight tear also delayed a Twins game briefly in 1986.”

--Minneapolis Star Tribune, “Vikings game with Giants moved to Monday, now in doubt … Although the Giants' flight was diverted to Kansas City because of the storm -- the team ended up spending the night in that city -- the reason the game was pushed back … was because of the snow accumulation on the Metrodome.” http://bit.ly/gSDLyo

REMEMBERING ELIZABETH EDWARDS – “Memories run deep for a mother, mentor – Elizabeth Edwards brings out the best, even in death,” by The (Raleigh) News & Observer’s Michael Biesecker: “Saturday's service was held at Edenton Street United Methodist Church, the same downtown Raleigh sanctuary that held the 1996 memorial for her 16-year-old son Wade, who died in an automobile accident. … ‘When I talked to my mom about what she wanted for this service, the first thing she said was that she wanted to be here at Edenton Street, because it was so connected to us and so connected to him,’ said Edwards' daughter Cate, 28, speaking for her family from the pulpit. … In the front pew sat Cate's father and her two younger siblings, Emma Claire and Jack. The two-time presidential candidate was silent, tenderly holding the hands of his grieving children. Across the aisle was Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts … Though the couple's estrangement in the last year was well known, John Edwards was said to have been at the family's Chapel Hill home, keeping vigil at his ailing wife's bedside during her final days. … Glenn Bergenfield, a close friend of Elizabeth's since they attended UNC law school together, said the former senator will now dedicate himself to finishing the job of raising Emma Claire, 12, and Jack, 10. … ‘Go now Elizabeth," [Bergenfield] said. "Be with Wade. It's been a decade and a half since you lost him. ... Rest easy my beloved friend - sweet, sweet Elizabeth.’” http://bit.ly/f70GsB

TOM BROKAW, in a WashPost op-ed, on how President Obama and Leader Boehner can work together: “Make a joint appearance on the steps of the National Institutes of Health and say to the nation you're both leading: ‘We have decided together that we can't ask the American people to make sacrifices in the year ahead unless we make some sacrifices of our own for the sake of our health, our families and the nation. We're quitting smoking and we ask others to join us in this critical step in restoring America's health.’” http://wapo.st/gidO3A

** A message from Nucor Corporation: At Nucor Corporation, we believe America’s economic strength comes from making and building things. With over 26 million unemployed or underemployed workers, creating jobs must be our nation’s number one priority. To be successful, we need a healthy manufacturing sector. Since 1998, this country has lost over 6 million manufacturing jobs. The time for change is now. **

TOP TALKER -- L.A. Times 2-col. lead, “Parties ignite a financial arms race: Record spending on midterms puts both sides in permanent fundraising mode,” by Tom Hamburger and Matea Gold: “[I]ndependent campaign money — unleashed by the Supreme Court — will wield even more influence in 2012. … In a sign of the new order, a newly elected Republican senator, Wisconsin's Ron Johnson, paid a personal visit last week to U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue to thank him for the chamber's unsolicited support of his candidacy. At the National Republican Congressional Committee, Chairman Pete Sessions of Texas is laying plans to ramp up fundraising for 2012 by setting benchmarks for all members of the GOP majority. Plans include giving every member a minimum fundraising threshold, with new, higher amounts set for incoming party chairmen. Of the $4 billion spent overall [in the midterms], about $300 million came from nonparty independent groups …

--“Now the talk among Democratic lawmakers and their campaign advisors is how to create ‘our own Crossroads’ … ‘I can sympathize with them, but I have no sympathy for them,’ said Carl Forti, political director for American Crossroads, a ‘super PAC’ that discloses its donors, and Crossroads GPS, a nonprofit social welfare organization that accepts anonymous contributions. Crossroads raised more than $70 million in 2010, but campaign finance lawyer Michael E. Toner, who advised several Republican presidential campaigns, anticipates that the two groups will spend more than $200 million in the next campaign cycle. … Many GOP allies such as the Chamber of Commerce, Crossroad GPS and Americans for Prosperity already are planning to launch issue advertising and grass-roots campaigns in 2011. … ‘Not even Thanksgiving or Christmas after an election is off-limits anymore,’ lamented David DiMartino, a Washington political consultant. ‘For the small world of people who write checks to political campaigns, there no longer is an off-season.’” http://lat.ms/hsiBsb

THE AGENDA:

--N.Y. Times 2-col. lead, “A Secretive Banking Elite Rules Derivatives Trading: Clubby Clearinghouses Limit Competition, and Consumers Face Higher Prices,” by Louise Story (part of a “House Advantage” series, examining “how Wall Street tries to gain an upper hand”): “Under the Dodd-Frank financial overhaul, many derivatives will be traded via such clearinghouses. … Republican lawmakers, many of whom received large campaign contributions from bankers who want to influence how the derivatives rules are written, say they plan to push back against much of the coming reform. … The Department of Justice is looking into derivatives … The department’s antitrust unit is actively investigating ‘the possibility of anticompetitive practices in the credit derivatives clearing, trading and information services industries.’” http://nyti.ms/fnP5m9

--“Will GOP take the P out of NPR?” by Keach Hagey: “NPR is facing the most serious threat to the ‘public’ part of its identity since Newt Gingrich’s days as speaker, thanks to a resurgent, tea party-inspired Republican House with budget cuts on its mind and recent stumbles that have left the broadcaster vulnerable to its ideological critics on the right. By far the greatest and most galvanizing of these issues was the firing of Juan Williams. But some Republicans also are seething over NPR’s decision to announce a $1.8 million grant from the Open Society Foundations, founded by financier George Soros, just a few days before Williams was fired. … Budget hawks like Cantor say the grant proves NPR doesn’t need to rely on government money. But the culture warriors of the group, like DeMint and Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), go much further — arguing that NPR’s acceptance of the grant is proof of a leftist agenda. … NPR denies any such bias and is standing by its decision to solicit the contribution … NPR’s decision to take ‘Soros money’ has turned into a political gift to the Republicans.” http://bit.ly/eRTitI

SPORTS BLINK – Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser, “CAM CONQUERS”: “Cam Newton, Auburn's record-breaking junior quarterback, was awarded the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, making him the third player in AU history to win college football's most prestigious trophy … ‘This whole thing right now is just beyond me," Newton said. ‘I feel like I'm in a dream. It hasn't even come to me what I've just accomplished, what I've just won. It's a prestigious award, and I'm just a blessed individual to have an opportunity to even be here standing in front of you guys.’ … Of the ballots submitted, Newton received the first-place vote on 93 percent of them.” http://bit.ly/fezehZ

--Miami Herald: “The Gators hired Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp on Saturday night, just three days after Urban Meyer announced his resignation … Muschamp, 39, will be the second youngest coach in the Southeastern Conference behind Mississippi State's Dan Mullen, a former Meyer assistant whom many thought would be a serious candidate for UF's opening.” http://bit.ly/fFCwwK

** A message from Nucor Corporation: As the largest steel producer in the United States, we know the impacts that trade, energy and infrastructure policies have on our economy. We can restore manufacturing and create millions of new jobs through a comprehensive program to rebuild our aging infrastructure, achieve energy independence and enforce our trade laws. To learn more about how we can again be a nation that makes and builds things, visit www.nucor.com/voice. **

Readers' Comments (1)

Just a suggestion. If the Republicans want to become what they have falsely claimed for twenty plus years, I nominate Mark Levin, Constitutional lawyer, to head the party. He would honestly act in the best interests of the Republican base, and all hard working Americans, who are under represented at the present time.